There has been a large increase in opioid drug misuse in the US since 2000. Utah has been ranked 5th in the nation for overdose deaths, outpacing deaths due to firearms, falls, and motor vehicle crashes. As always, local agencies are participating in the National Drug Take Back Day providing the perfect opportunity to safely dispose of unused pills or patches. During the fall 2018 event, Americans turned in almost 469 tons of prescription drugs. As prescription drug abuse is on the rise, one of the simplest forms to be safe is to turn in expired, unused, and unwanted prescription pills. Previous methods of disposal like flushing drugs down the toilet or just throwing them out, has been found to create potential safety and health hazards for families and the community. Bring your pills and patches to either the Walmart in Vernal, the Davis Food and Drug in Roosevelt, or the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office in Duchesne on Saturday, October 24th from 10am to 2pm for proper disposal. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
